Mental Health and Wellbeing

Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It’s common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it’s always ok to ask for help – even if you’re not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.

You might want to seek help if you’re:

• worrying more than usual
• finding it hard to enjoy your life
• having thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with, which have an impact on your day-to-day life
• interested to find more support or treatment

Who can I turn to?
There are lots of options for support out there, although you might find some are more suitable for you, or more easily available. There’s no wrong order to try things in – different things work for different people at different times.

Your doctor (GP)
For many of us, our local GP practice is the first place we go when we’re unwell (known as primary care). Your doctor is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health.
You can use the NHS Choices website to find the nearest GP surgeries.

On Campus

Your College
Colleges have a network of support available to you, including College Tutors who work closely with the Head and Assistant Head of College, and help with a range of well-being issues, signposting to relevant specialist support where necessary. Colleges can also help support any friends that you might have concerns about. Contact details for each college colleague, including college managers, life advisors and coordinators can be found by clicking the link here.

Open Door Team
The Open Door Team is a team of professionals who provide support to students who are experiencing emotional, psychological or mental health difficulties. You can complete the online referral form on the Open Door Team webpage if you wish to make an appointment with a practitioner, and they will endeavour to contact you within 2 working days. The University’s website also contains useful information and guidance on health and wellbeing.

Contact details
Sally Baldwin Building, Block B,
University of York – West Campus
Email: opendoor@york.ac.uk

Phone: 01904 322140

Website: www.york.ac.uk/students/health/help/open-door/
Opening hours
09:00 – 17:00 (Monday- Friday)

Nightline (Temporarily Closed)
Nightline is a confidential listening and information service run by students for students. They provide space for you to talk about anything that is affecting you, as well as offer a wide range of information on other services.

Contact details
Grimston House – Ground Floor, Rear Entrance,
Vanbrugh College,
University of York – West Campus
Email: listening@york.nightline.ac.uk

Phone: 01904 323735

Website: www.yorknightline.org.uk/online
Opening hours
20:00 – 08:00 (Every day during term time)

Off Campus

Samaritans
Samaritans is a national charity that provides a confidential listening service 24/7, 365 days a year. They give you a safe space to talk about whatever difficulties you might be experiencing.

Contact details
89 Nunnery Lane, York, YO23 1AH
Email: jo@samaritans.org

Phone: 116 123

Website: www.samaritans.org

York Mind
York mind is an independent provider of high quality mental health services in York and surrounding areas. They are a leading local provider of a range of services that support individuals in recovering from mental ill-health to achieve outcomes that will progress them towards recovery, social inclusion and integration in mainstream activity, such as learning, volunteering or employment.

Contact details
Highcliffe House, Highcliffe Court, York, YO30 6BP
Email: office@yorkmind.org.uk

Phone: 01904 643 364

Website: www.yorkmind.org.uk

The Haven
The Haven @ 30 Clarence Street offers a welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgemental and non-clinical environment. The emphasis is on reducing immediate distress and supporting visitors to access services and opportunities available to them in the wider community. You can come in just for a cup of tea and a chat, or you can access one-to-one emotional support from trained mental health professionals. They also offer help in creating staying well and crisis plans, and support visitors to access other services and organisations that may be useful to them. Users of the Haven have access to a 24-hour telephone emotional support line staffed by trained counsellors.

This service is delivered by Mental Health Matters, on behalf of Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust.

Contact details
30 Clarence Street, York, YO31 7EW
(Opposite the Union Terrace Coach Park, next to York St John University.)
Email: haven.mhm@nhs.net

Mobile: 07483 141 310

Website: http://www.mhm.org.uk/the-haven-30-clarence-street
Opening hours
18:00 – 23:00 (Every day, including weekends and bank holidays.)
No appointment or referral needed. Carers and family welcome.

Additional Resources

PROVISION FOR STAFF

Support, Health and Wellbeing
Employee Assistance Provider
Mental Health First Contact Network

FOR STAFF SUPPORTING STUDENTS

Supporting Students
Supporting Students: A Guide for Staff (leaflet)

FOR STUDENTS

Student In Crisis
Shout (Text SHOUT to 85258)
Overview of all resources

EXTERNAL SUPPORT PROVISION IN YORK:

NHS Mental Health Crisis Line and Information
York Mental Health and Wellbeing Directory and Guide
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) – self-referrals for counselling

OUTSIDE YORK

Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline

EXTERNAL SUPPORT:

NHS Help with Mental Health
NHS Every Mind Matters
Papyrus – Suicide Prevention for Young People 
CALM Campaign against Male Suicide